Ancestors

Toot

Written by Kerr Avonsen on 2025-01-04 at 04:50

Why are knitting needles called "needles" when they look more like pins?

@knitting

=> More informations about this toot | More toots from kerravonsen@mastodon.au

Descendants

Written by OtherRyn on 2025-01-04 at 10:08

@kerravonsen So, it looks like when machine knitting was invented in the mid-1800s, the latch hook was called a needle (because it was a bent piece of metal with an eye in it - see spring beard needle) and (this is where I get into supposition because I'm not doing a deep dive today) the name for the tool in manufacturing became the name for the tool in handwork. (I have heard them called knitting pins by older folk when I was a kid.)

@knitting

=> More informations about this toot | More toots from otherryn@sunny.garden

Written by Kerr Avonsen on 2025-01-04 at 10:36

@otherryn @knitting Thank you for looking into this.

My original question was prompted by my search for a Portuguese Knitting pin, and some of my results included sites where knitting needles were called "knitting pins" and it made me wonder...

=> More informations about this toot | More toots from kerravonsen@mastodon.au